Machine for forming sheet-metal baskets



LENNOX MACHNE FOR FORMING, SHEET METAL' BASKETS Filed Deo. 6, 1920 3- Sheets-Sheet l #mm/.Hum

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- T. LENNQX MACHINE FOR FQRMING SHEET METAL BASKETS Filed Dec. e; 1920 l :s sheets-Sheet@ Jun@ 19, w23."

T. LENNOX MACHINE FOR FORMINGl SHEET METAL BASKETS Filed Dc. 6, 1920 g J0 ssneets-sheet s ffw @22,60% S/wm? Patented .lune 19, 1923.

UNETED STATES TALBOT LENNOX, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

. MACHINE FOR FORMING SHEET-METAL BASKETS.

Application filed December G, 1920.

To all whom t may conce/ru.

Be it known that 1, Tanner LnNNm/t, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Marshalltown, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Machine for Forming Sheet Metal. Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my .invention is to provide a machine of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, especially designed for formingcorrugated, reinforced baskets from sheet metal.

A further object is to provide improved means for automatically forming the reinforcing` ribs iu the body portion of the basket, and for tapering` said ribs. from a maximum thickness from thebottom center of the basket to a minimum near the top of the basket, for the double purpose of giving the proper curvature to the basket when formed and for giving additional strength Y to the basket at the point where the greatest strains occur, and more speciiically in this connection it is my object to provide a machine of this kind by which the reinforcing ribs may be extended to a point closer to the center of the bottom of the basket than has been possible with machines for thisl purpose heretofore in use.

A further object is to provide means for automatically gripping' the basket and firmly holding it in position during the time that each rib is being' formed, and for automatically releasing it and then advancing it one rib space to position ready for the nexty rib bending` operation.

A further object is to provide improved and simplified means for automatically forming;` the basket in the desired shape during` the operation of forming the ribs, so that as soon as the ribs are formed the basket will be properly shaped.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an end elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 shows a top or plan view of same.

Figure 3 shows a front elevation of same.

Figure Il: shows an enlarged vertical Serial N0. 428,715.

transverse sectional view through the movable frame in which the sheet metal to be formed into a basket is clamped.

Figure 5 shows a vertical, transverse sectional view through the rib forming devices. v

Figure 6 shows an enlarged, detail sectional view illustrating the stationary yrib forming member and the opposed movable rib forming member, with a partly formed basket therein, and also the means for advancing material one rib space after each rib forming operation.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the upper portion. of my improved machine, with a partially formed basket therein as in use; and.

Figure 8 shows a top or plan view of a.

basket of the kind produced by miy improved machine, the bottom member being omitted.

Referring` to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the machine base. Mounted at the rear of the base is a driving shaft 11, on which is mounted a pulley 12 which is provided with a clutch 13, partly illustrated in Figure 7, and of the ordinary kind. Fixed to this shaft 11 is a small pinion 14C in mesh with a large pinion 15 on the main shaft 16. This main shaft carries a. balance wheel 17 and is provided with a crank arm 18, as shown'in F igure 3, whereby when the pulley is operated the crank arm 18 will be'driven at a reduced speed.

Mounted upon the base 10 is a standard 19, to which is fulcrumed the main operating lever 20. This lever is preferably formed of two side members spaced apart from each other. At the: rear this lever is yconnected to a pitman 21, adjustable as to length bythe screw and socket joint 21A, which pitman is connected to the crank 18 so that the lever is reciprocated during the operation of the driving shaft.

Fixed to the forward end of the reciprocating lever 20 are two rib forming plates 22, spaced apart from each other and yeach having its lower edge rounded at 23. These plates 22 are also shaped as follows: The forward portion has a straight portion at 24, as shown in Figure 7, and a rounded rear portion at 25, the shape being substantially that to which it is desired to bend the body portion of the metal basket. Between these pivoted at one end to the fulcrum bolt 26A stationary rib 'forming plate 8l. This movement prevents the metal from wrinlding and holds all ot' the parts iirmlytogether during' the rib forming operation, and at the same time enables the operator to form much deeper ribs without wrinkling than can be formed with the ordinary rib forming' mechanisms now in use. During the rib forming process the metal is lirinly held by the clamping` jaws t9 and 50, and as soon as the ribs have been formed these jaws are automatically released so that the material may be advanced.

One oi the .important features off my invention is in connection with this movement advancing` the material. Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that after the rib has been formed the stationary plate 3l projects up into the rib, and in order to advance the material it is necessary to raise the material above the rib 31. In my device this is accomplished readily and easily, because after the lever 20 has been` raised vthe end ot the basket material that is resting upon the curved forming` plate 32 tends to cause the material adjacent to the stationary plate 3l to spring` upwardly, thus clearing the stationary plate 3l and permitting the material to advance.

Furthermore, the springr actuated plate 26 performs another advantageous function. because when the lever 2O begins its upward movement the rib just formed in the basket material would tend to stick tightly between the rib Jforming` plates 22. This, however, is prevented by the spring' actuated plate Q6, and the entire upper rib forming mechanism is thereby freely separated from the basket making material.

l claim as my invention:

l; In a rib 'forming mechanism tor sheet metal articles. the combination ot two rib forming; devices, one being` capable ot movement toward the other, one ot said rib tormingg' devices comprising' a single rib forming plate` and the other comprising` two :rib forming plates spaced apart, and a third plate between them, and a spring,` device applied to the said third plate to vieldiugrlyy hold it projected beyond the other two plates and to permit it to be forced baci; between the other two plates, all ot said rib termina plates also beingcurved longitudinally with one end portion thereof substantially at right angles to the other.

In a rib forming' mechanism `for sheet metal articles, the combination of two rib forming devices, one being,` capable et movement toward the other, one ot said rib torniing` devices comprising a single rib forming plate, and the other comprising two rib forming plates spaced apart, and a third plate between them, and a spring device applied to the said third plate to yieldingly hold it projected beyond the other two plates and ing,` devices 'comprising a single rib forming s plate, and the other comprising two rib terming` plates spaced apart, and a third plate between them, a spring device applied to the said third plate to yieldingly hold it projected beyond the other two platesand to permit it to be forced back between the other two plates, all ot said ribA forming plates also being curved longitudinally with one end portion thereof substantially at right angles to the other, means Vtor advancing sheet metal material between the rib 'forming' devices when they ai'e separated, and a guide plate against which the material is forced when thus advanced, said guide plate being' positioned and shaped to u Yraise the material away from the single rib formingl plate to permit such advance. u

l. In a rib forming mechanism vtorsheet metal articles, 'the combination ot two rib forming` devices, one beingcapable ot' movement toward the other, one ot said rib torming devices comprising;` a single rib formino' plate, and the other comprising two rib forming;- plates spaced apart, and a third plateA between them, a spring;` device applied to the said third plate to yieldingly hold it projected beyond the other two plates and to permit it to be forced back between the other two plates, all otsaid rib ftorming plates `being curved longitudinally, and

means toi' clamping' sheet metalinaterial in position to be operated on by the rib tormingl devices, said means being automatically opera-ted to clamp during` the movement of the rib 'forming devices toward each other.

5. l'n a rib forming' mechanism tor sheet metal articles, the combination of two iib formingv devices, one being capable ot movement toward the other, one ot said rib forming devices comprising a single rib forming plate, and the other comprising two rib forming; plates spaced apart, and a third plate between them, a spring,r device applied to the said third plate to yieldingly hold it projected beyond the other two plates and t0 permit it to be 'forced back between the other two plates, all of said rib forming plates being curved longitudinally, means for clamping sheet metal material in position to be operated on by the rib forming devices, said means being automatically operated to les v.clamp .during lthe movement of therib torming devices. toward each.;other, rand-spring actuated means for releasing said clamp fduring the separating movement of they rib forming devices. Y

6. In a rib-forming mechanism i'for sheet metal articles, the combinationv ot two rib vforming devices, one beingI capable oi'' movement toward the other,\one ot said rib "torming devices con'iprising a single rib 'forming plate, and ythe other comprising ,two :rib forming platesspaced apart, and a third plate between them, a spring device applied to the said third plate to yieldingly hold it .projected beyond=the other two :plates and to permit it to be forced back between the other two plates, and .means for clamping sheet metal material in position to be opertated `on -by the .rib toi-ming` devices, said means being automatically operated toA clamp during the movement ott theirib ormingidevices toward each other, said .means comprising a stationary jaw designed to engage the -sheet metal material, a movable j aw opposed `to the Stationary jarig a sliding plate to which the movable jaw. is attached, a cam device for operating the .plate in one direction, a spring for moving the 'plate in the opposite direction, and an` arm carried by the movable'rib forming-,device to engage and oper-` ate said cam.

7; In a machine of the class described, the combination ot a lever, means 'tor oscillating it, a rib forming devicecarried by the lever, a stationary coacting rib forming device, a movable sheet metal material lsupporting frame extending transversely betweensaid rib forming devices, means actuated by said lever for advancing the said movable` trame during'that part of themoveinent ot the lever when the rib torrnino` devices are separated, and means for camping the sheet metal material firmly in position, said means actuated by the said lever during its `movement for bringing the ribfiiorming devices together.

8. In a machine of the class described, theycombination ofa lever, means for oscillating it, a rib Jforming device carried by the lever,

a stationary coacting rib forming device, a movable sheet metal material supporting trame extending,transversely between said rib forming devices, means actuated by sai-d lever for advancing` the said movable frame during that part of the lmovement of the lever when the rib formingdevices are separated, means for clamping the sheet metal material firmly in position, said meansvactuated by the said lever during its movement `for bringing the ribl forming devices to- .gethenand a stationary guide plate designed f lever for advancing the said movable frame .during that part of the movement ot the lever when the rib forming devices are separated, means for clamping the sheet `metal material firmly in position, said ymeans actuated by the said lever during its movement for bringing the rib` forming devices together, a stationary guide plate designed to be engaged by the material kaitter it has passed through between the rib formingv devices, said guide plate being so positioned as to cause the sheet metal, material to elevate out of engagement with thestationary rib forming device when the-sheet metal matevrial isbeing advanced, and a stationary guide plate to receive-and-support the matcrial after it has been lpassed through between the rib forming plates, said-,latter plate having an opening through it through which lthe lever is projected.

Des Moines, Iowa, October 12, 1920.

TALBOT LENNOX. 

